Man's estate accuses doctor of medical negligence

POINT PLEASANT – A doctor and his clinic face a lawsuit after the doctor allegedly failed to properly document a patient's treatment.

Drusilla Scritchfield, as executrix of the estate of Charles Shaver, deceased, filed suit June 5 in Mason Circuit Court against Shrikant K. Vaidya M.D. and Vaidya Urology Clinic Inc.

According to the complaint, the plaintiff's father, Charles Shaver, underwent surgery Aug. 30, 2011, performed by the defendants, involving the placement of two JP drains in Shaver's lower pubic area.

Prior to Shaver's release from the hospital, Vaidya removed the two drains and placed a third drain, but did not document this procedure, according to the suit. Because the third drain was not documented, it was not monitored during Shaver's rehabilitation and was not discovered until he underwent surgery March 26, 2012, for a non-healing abscess, which is believed to be caused by the JP drain that should have been removed earlier.

Shaver endured pain, suffering, a prolonged healing process, permanent bodily injury, mental anguish and scarring as a result of the defendant's negligence in failing to properly document Shaver's treatment, according to the suit.

Scritchfield is seeking punitive damages in excess of the jurisdictional minimums.

She is represented by Charleston attorneys Tony L. O'Dell and Cheryl A. Fisher of Tiano O'Dell PLLC. The case hase been assigned to Judge David W. Nibert.

Mason Circuit Court case number 14-C-73